Chapter 574: Bean City

574. Bean City (3)

“Because he’s the one who created the bean tree with spatial magic.”

“Your ordered drink is here.”

Just as Oliver spoke, a boy who seemed to be a pub worker struggled to carry an incredibly large mug over, saying so.

The massive mug landed on the table with a thud, and Ewan drank it quickly, using only his mouth.

“Burp… It may taste awful, but at least it’s strong. Don’t you agree?”

“I think it tastes pretty good, actually.”

“Well, when you’re hungry, everything tastes good… But how did you recognize that was a bean tree?”

Ewan gestured with his chin at the stump of the bean tree visible through the pub window.

“It’s all withered and looks like a rock now.”

“But didn’t you recognize it too, Ewan?”

“Only because it’s my creation. What craftsman wouldn’t recognize his own work?”

“It feels a bit different now.”

Oliver looked at the stump of the bean tree through the Warlock’s Eye. There was a faint trace of the unique aura of a black magic item.

“Blessed eyes you have. Did you know from that sight that it had spatial magic abilities?”

“No, I just made an educated guess about the spatial magic.”

“A guess?”

“Yes, didn’t you once mention going to a land in the sky where giants lived? I think the giant who formed the foundation of Bean City came from there.”

“Or maybe I really did go to the land in the sky?”

“I thought about that, but it didn’t seem likely. It’s an era where airships fly, but no one’s ever reported meeting a giant living in the sky.”

“Maybe the airships just don’t fly high enough?”

“… Oh, that could be true.”

Oliver thought for a moment and was impressed.

Humans might boast about conquering the skies, but there are still limits, so it wasn’t entirely absurd.

“Still, I think you went to a world where giants live using spatial magic. Also, based on my emotional reading, it seems like spatial magic to me.”

Oliver came to this conclusion after reading Ewan’s emotions.

“Huh, since when did you get so smart?”

“I’m just trying to start using my head a little more… How did you create a bean tree that leads to the world where giants live?”

“I reversed summoning magic, which is a type of spatial magic.”

A simple but clear answer. Oliver quietly admired it.

It made sense. Yet even so, there were still doubts.

“… Then why hasn’t anyone else thought of that?”

“Because it’s impossible.”

“What?”

“A few people might try it, but they soon realize it’s impossible and give up. Now, you’re wondering why I succeeded, right?”

Oliver nodded, and Ewan answered.

“Simple. I was extremely lucky.”

“… Can luck really make that possible?”

Oliver pondered it seriously. It didn’t seem like something that could be accomplished by luck alone.

But Ewan’s attitude was firm.

“Of course. You might throw a ball and accidentally hit a pigeon, or a monkey could type out Hamlet by hitting the keys at random. Don’t be trapped by your assumptions.”

Oliver was left speechless by his words. Indeed, you couldn’t say the odds were absolutely zero.

‘I don’t know what Hamlet is, though…’

Oliver thought as he looked at Ewan. And he wanted to ask.

Was it also a coincidence that you saved Kent at the critical moment and always appeared when help was needed?

“Don’t overthink it. I’m like a pigeon that got hit by a flying ball. Get what I mean?”

“… Not really?”

“It means I’m a one-in-a-billion guy. I just have good timing. Don’t take it too seriously. It’ll only tire you out. I’ve only stuck around to take advantage of you… Now, I regret it. I thought you’d be as easy to use as that guy Jack.”

Ewan expressed his complaints with the clinking of chains.

Oliver asked, prompted by that comment.

“… Can you tell me who Jack is?”

“Why?”

“I figured it would be helpful to know what kind of person he is before we meet.”

Seeing the sense in what he said, Ewan sighed while chained.

“Hmm… Let’s see? He was a fool who traded a cow for three beans. His nickname in the town was actually ‘Fool.’”

“So, you traded three beans for a cow from a fool and then introduced yourself as a brilliant negotiator?”

“The way you say it makes me sound like a villain! Actually, that guy Jack—”

“—Hmm?”

Just as Ewan was about to speak, Oliver turned his head outward.

“It seems Mr. Lysander has kept his promise.”

As if to confirm his words, a suspicious movement could be felt outside the pub.

Step. Step. Step. Step.

A group quickly surrounded the pub.

Soon, those inside the pub also sensed the presence and looked around uneasily.

After a moment, a group of black magicians and mana users armed with firearms entered, led by an elderly man in his seventies.

On his chest was a pure gold badge with the word [Mayor] engraved on it.

“Nice to meet you… citizens.”

***

“The mayor?”

“Is that the mayor? Mayor Jack?”

“Looks like it.”

“Wow, it’s my first time seeing him.”

Some of the pub’s patrons, who had been frozen by the unexpected situation, began to murmur.

The way they talked made it seem like even the residents here didn’t know Jack’s face very well.

That puzzled Oliver a bit.

In Randa City, even City Councilors, who govern for a long time, were known to the citizens since they were elected through voting, and most Randa citizens knew their faces.

‘Is the concept of the mayor different in Bean City compared to Randa?’

As Oliver harbored such doubts, the pub owner approached Mayor Jack and spoke.

“M-Mayor? What brings you here?”

The pub owner seemed to ask, not knowing the mayor’s face well, while looking at the armed forces and the gold badge on Jack’s chest rather than his face.

Given the pub owner’s obsequiousness, it seemed the mayor held considerable authority.

Jack, well aware of his own authority, barely glanced at the pub owner as he scanned the establishment.

“Among the customers here—”

Jack paused, noticing Oliver’s raised hand.

He left his men in place and approached Oliver alone.

“Hello, strangers. Welcome to Bean City. I’m Jack, the Fool.”

Jack introduced himself, even adding his silly nickname.

For a city leader, his demeanor was extremely humble. To return the gesture, Oliver removed his gifted gray cloak and bowed in greeting.

“Hello, Mayor Jack. Nice to meet you. My name is Dave.”

At the mention of the name ‘Dave,’ Mayor Jack’s eyes quickly scanned Oliver.

“Black hair mixed with some white, bandaged right arm, emaciated face and body, and that quarterstaff… Are you Dave, the Woodcutter from Randa?”

Muttering, Jack quickly deduced Oliver’s identity.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Oliver confirmed, causing murmurs to rise among some of the people in the pub.

“Dave, the Woodcutter from Randa?”

“The one who killed hundreds of Druids and skinned them for trophies?”

“The schemer who uses cunning tactics?”

“The one who frequents the red-light district daily?”

“Heh heh heh heh heh heh.”

Amused by the outlandish rumors, Ewan started laughing softly.

Of course, some of the rumors couldn’t be completely dismissed.

“They say he fought Puppet one-on-one and became a new Finger…”

“And that he fought a prince candidate from the Swan Sect…”

Who would have thought that even in this distant place from Randa, rumors about Oliver would have spread?

Still, it wasn’t unpleasant. At least in the current situation, such rumors could be beneficial.

Oliver waited for the mayor to react, and the mayor stood quietly until the murmuring died down.

Fortunately, the wait wasn’t long. Soon, everyone in the pub turned their attention to them.

A heavy silence filled the pub.

Jack then lifted the hood of Ewan, who was seated across from Oliver, revealing his face.

“Oh? That face…?”

The pub owner looked at the wanted poster stabbed into the wall of his pub with a knife.

There was a portrait of Ewan on it.

The other pub patrons reacted similarly to the owner.

It’s not every day you get to see people with bounties of 2 billion or 4 billion in person.

“It’s been a long time, Bean Trader.”

“Nearly 60 years, Jack. How have you been?”

Jack, who appeared to be in his seventies, addressed Ewan, who seemed to be in his forties, respectfully and called him ‘Mister.’ It was strange, but before anyone could notice that, Jack pulled out a pouch from his pocket and called the pub owner.

“Owner.”

“Yes, Mayor.”

“I’d like to rent this place today. Here.”

After placing the pouch on the table, Jack casually loosened its string.

Then, glittering gold coins started spilling out, catching the light.

The sight of the gold coins was impressive.

“This should not only cover the rent of the pub but also the meals of all the customers here. Is that okay?”

The owner quickly nodded in agreement and then asked the customers to leave.

Likewise, the customers didn’t react any differently, gathering up their food and drinks as they exited the pub.

While doing so, Ewan naturally got up to leave, but Jack grabbed his shoulder and made him sit back down.

“Too bad.”

With the pub emptied in an instant by the power of gold, Jack asked Oliver.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Of course, Mayor Jack. And please just call me Dave. I’m not someone who deserves any titles.”

“Then, Dave, please just call me Jack. I’ve heard rumors about you, and it feels weird to be addressed with a title myself.”

Jack made the suggestion, matching the flow of the conversation. In the end, both took a small step back.

“… You seem to know Randa’s situation well.”

“Diligent citizens keep me informed… And your reputation, Dave, is spreading beyond Randa.”

Oliver roughly figured out what Jack meant.

“… The stories are a bit exaggerated.”

“Even if they’ve been embellished, the core of the story isn’t false, is it?”

Jack showed keen insight and judgment, making Oliver wonder why he was given the nickname ‘Fool.’ He was almost on par with top businesspeople in Randa.

‘Or maybe it makes sense? No fool could become the mayor of Bean City.’

As Oliver realized something so obvious, Jack opened his mouth.

“But that aside, this is kind of troublesome.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lysander said that someone here had captured Ewan, so I came. And here you are, just as he said.”

“I didn’t exactly capture him, but isn’t that good news?”

“Good? It’s very good. I’ve been raising his bounty every year to catch him. The problem is, I thought I could just pay the bounty and take him, but that won’t work, will it?”

Correct. Jack had quickly assessed the situation.

“… Why do you think that?”

“Because while 2 or 4 billion might be a lot to most people, it’s not much to someone who’s found the Flesh Cook’s legacy. It wouldn’t be enough to make you come all the way to this far-flung city. So, it puts me in a tricky spot. What do you want to be here in person?”

Oliver silently admired Jack’s perception and thanked him. Thanks to that, they could make progress quickly.

Oliver didn’t miss the chance and raised two fingers.

“There are two things I want.”

“Unlike what I’ve heard, you get to the point quickly. Go ahead.”

“First, I’d like you to call Captain Hook.”

“That’s more than I expected right from the start. Why do you need Hook?”

“I’d like him to guide me. To Neverland.”

“Neverland, where the eternal child Fen lives?”

“Yes, exactly. My friend was kidnapped and taken there.”

“… So?”

“? I’m going to go get him.”

“…?? Are you serious? You’re going to go to Neverland, where one of the Black Hand resides, just for your friend?”

“Yes. Because he’s my friend.”

Jack’s followers furrowed their brows and showed reactions ranging from squinting to raising an eyebrow as if they couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

And rightly so—on a common-sense level, it was absurd.

But Jack seemed to understand the weight of Oliver’s words.

“… Honestly, that’s different from what I was expecting. What’s the second thing?”

“I’d like you to make peace with Ewan.”

Oliver said without hesitation, and Jack turned to look at Ewan.

“… Do you even know what Ewan did to me?”

“I’ve heard. Ewan tricked you into trading your entire fortune, a cow, for three defective beans?”

“You know well. And you still say that to me?”

“Yes. Because you don’t intend to catch Ewan for revenge, do you, Jack?”

It was as if Oliver could read Jack’s mind. Even though it was difficult, even for a black magician who could read emotions.

Even more surprising was that Jack didn’t deny it. Instead, he brought up something else.

“… There are many people besides me who have a grudge against Ewan. Just his students from the Guild of Artisans are enough. He sold them out after taking ten years’ worth of wages.”

“I will try to convince them too. All I ask is that you provide the opportunity.”

Oliver’s voice carried confidence… No, it carried something beyond confidence. It held a determination that he would make it happen.

There was no tension in his tone, yet it had strong persuasion, prompting Jack to ask.

“How?”

“First, I’ll compensate them with money and if that’s not enough, I intend to provide some assistance. For instance, I heard this city is suffering from a food shortage, and I think I can help with that.”

Oliver made the suggestion, recalling the scenes he had seen during his tour of the six districts of Bean City.

In the slums, there were people saying they were hungry, and at the seafood market, customers and vendors were fighting over the ridiculous rise in fish prices. The same went for the bakeries, vegetable shops, and butcher shops in the Central Square.

The whole city wasn’t yet destitute, but it was clearly on the brink.

Even after witnessing this, Oliver offered to help.

Jack responded with a certain disbelief.

“You really are different from the rumors.”

“They seem to have misunderstood me.”

“Can you tell me how? It’s hard to believe when you act like solving these issues will be so easy.”

“I have some money right now. As for the food problem… I’ll explain if you agree. It’s a bit lengthy.”

Jack’s followers slowly surrounded the table as if they were expecting Oliver to bluff.

“Hmm… How about I take Ewan with me instead, and I’ll try to talk you into it separately?”

Oliver looked at Jack, surprised by his approach.

“I know Randa has a reputation for being rough, but I’d say this place isn’t too far behind. I am a bit concerned about your fight with Puppet, but… People who’ve killed Puppet weren’t uncommon in different eras.”

There was no malice, complacency, or arrogance in Jack’s assessment of Oliver.

Instead, it was a combination of rationality, skepticism, and curiosity masked as those traits.

Oliver responded accordingly.

“Then, I’ll try to persuade you in a similar way, Jack.”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, at the same time, a low but heavy sound echoed from high up in the sky, causing the pub to slightly tremble with a faint vibration.

At first, it was hardly noticeable, but soon the liquor in the cups shook, and the plates began to tremble slightly.

The subtle vibration grew stronger, eventually reaching a point where even people couldn’t ignore it. Then, one of the city guards surrounding the pub cried out, pointing to the sky.

“Wh-What’s that?! A tree? A tree?! A tree is falling!!”